# US 6,295,932 B1 · Electronic safe arm and fire device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,295,932 B1 - Document ID: US6295932B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/267,767 - Filed: 1999-03-15 - Granted: 2001-10-02 - Earliest claimed: 1999-03-15 - Assignees: Lockheed Martin Corporation - Inventors: James P. Kane, III - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6295932B1 ## CPC - F42C 15/40: wherein the safety or arming action is effected electrically - F42C: AMMUNITION FUZES (blasting cartridge initiators F42B3/10; chemical aspects C06C); ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR (filling fuzes F42B33/02; fitting or extracting primers in or from fuzes F42B33/04; containers for fuzes F42B39/30) ## Abstract An electronic safe arm & fire (ESAF) device has a common module and a pair of programmable devices that are readily configurable to different missile types. The ESAF device has a first static arming switch that is controlled by the first programmable device and a second static arming switch that is controlled by the second programmable device. The ESAF device has a firing module that has an exploding foil initiator. The common module and the firing module can be configured as a standalone module in close proximity to a warhead or can be integrated into a warhead. The common module has some inputs that are used by all the missiles in a group for the same signals; some inputs that are used by all the missiles, but for different signals; and, some inputs that are used by some of the missile, but not by all of the missiles. The common module has an input port for a separation signal, a communications port for a fuze data signal, and an input port for a signal that can be used to determine safe separation. The first programmable device is a microcontroller. The second programmable device can be a microcontroller or a programmable logic device. The first programmable device and the second programmable device perform a built-in test by checking the other device against a hardwired value. The ESAF device has a dynamic switch that is turned on by one of the programmable devices and controlled by the other programmable device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for controlling the arming and firing of a missile that is configurable to different missile types, the device comprising: a first arming switch; a second arming switch; a first programmable device for controlling the first arming switch; and a second programmable device for separately controlling the second arming switch, wherein at least one of the first and second programmable devices is a microcontroller. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A device as described in claim 1, the device further comprising a firing module, the firing module comprising an exploding foil initiator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A device as described in claim 2, wherein the firing module is configured as a standalone module in close proximity to a warhead. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A device as described in claim 2, comprising a common module having a plurality of input ports and output ports, wherein the common module and the firing module are integrated into a warhead. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A device as described in claim 4, wherein the first programmable device and the second programmable device are programmed for a first missile type. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A device as described in claim 5, wherein the common module has an input port for a first line and a second line, and the first missile type only requires the first line. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A device as described in claim 6, wherein the second line is disabled. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A device as described in claim 7, wherein the input port is for a separation signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A device as described in claim 8, wherein the separation signal is selected from the group consisting of an umbilical separation signal and a fin lock signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) A device as described in claim 5, wherein the common module has a communications port that includes three lines, and the first missile type does not require three lines. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A device as described in claim 10, wherein the communications port is for a fuze data signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A device as described in claim 11, wherein the fuze data signal can be a synchronous or an asynchronous signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) A device as described in claim 5, wherein the common module has an input for a signal, and the first missile type does not require the signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A device as described in claim 13, wherein the input is used by a second missile type for a differential pressure signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A device as described in claim 14, wherein the first missile type uses an accelerometer to determine safe separation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 4) A device as described in claim 4, wherein the common module has an input for a signal that is used to determine safe separation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A device as described in claim 16, further comprising bypass logic for a signal from an accelerometer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A device as described in claim 1, comprising: a common module, having a plurality of input ports, wherein the common module has an input port for a separation signal and the input port is connected to the first programmable device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A device as described in claim 1, wherein the first programmable device is connected to a signal that is used to calculate safe separation. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A device as described in claim 19, wherein the signal that is used to calculate safe separation is alternatively supplied to an input port or an accelerometer, and wherein further the first programmable device is configured to receive the signal from one of the input port or the accelerometer. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) A device as described in claim 1, wherein the first programmable device is a microcontroller and the second programmable device is a microcontroller. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) A device as described in claim 1, wherein the first programmable device is a microcontroller and the second programmable device is a programmable logic device. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) A device as described in claim 1, wherein the first programmable device checks the second programmable device against a hardwired value. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A device as described in claim 23, wherein the second programmable device checks the first programmable device against a hardwired value. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) A device as described in claim 1, further comprising a dynamic switch that is connected in series with the first static arming switch and the second static arming switch. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A device as described in claim 25, wherein the dynamic switch is turned on by the first programmable device, and the dynamic switch is pulsed by the second programmable device. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A device as described in claim 26, wherein the first programmable device uses a sequence detector to control the dynamic switch. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) A device as described in claim 27, wherein the first programmable device is connected to a communication port. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) A device as described in claim 28, wherein the first programmable device is a microcontroller. ### Claim 30 A device for controlling the arming and firing of a missile that is configurable to different missile types, the device comprising: a first arming switch; a second arming switch; a first programmable device for controlling the first arming switch; and a second programmable device for separately controlling the second arming switch, wherein the first programmable device performs at least one test on the second programmable device. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) A device as claimed in claim 30, wherein the second arming switch is activated by the second programmable device in response to the outcome of the at least one test. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) A device as claimed in claim 30, wherein at least one of the first and second arming switches is a dynamic switch. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) A device as claimed in claim 30, wherein at least one of the first and second arming switches is a static switch. ### Claim 34 (depends on 30) A device as claimed in claim 30, wherein the first programmable device is a microcontroller. ### Claim 35 (depends on 30) A device as claimed in claim 30, wherein the first programmable device is a programmable logic device. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) A device as claimed in claim 34, wherein the second programmable device is a programmable logic device.